Mathew Brown of Carmi Excels in UE Engineering Competition

2011 Dec 9

The University of Evansville is proud to announce that Mathew Brown of Carmi was a member of the second place team in UE's annual Engineering 101 competition.

The nine teams that competed on November 14 and 16 are comprised of students currently enrolled in the mechanical engineering section of UE's Engineering 101 course. The end-of-semester contest offers students a chance to demonstrate their knowledge of basic engineering concepts - and put that knowledge to work in a friendly competition against other students in the course.

Each team of three or four students must build a tennis ball thrower (such as a catapult, sling, or cannon device) that is powered by a tank of compressed air. Teams receive baseline points for arriving at the competition with a functional device, and they earn additional points for the accuracy and efficiency of their thrower - measured by the number of times they hit a bullseye and the number of shots they make with one tank of air. Teams are also evaluated on factors such as the safety, cost, and aesthetic appeal of their device.

"Mathew Brown's team performed well in the competition, which shows these students have learned the real-world skills taught in Engineering 101," said Doug Stamps, UE professor of mechanical engineering. "Aside from technical knowledge, students in this course are introduced to the teamwork and project management skills they'll utilize throughout the rest of their careers as engineering students - and in their professional lives once they graduate. I look forward to working with Mathew and fellow team members as they continue their studies at the University of Evansville."